Skip to main content
Article
Posttraumatic Stress Among Syrian Refugees: Trauma Exposure Characteristics, Trauma Centrality, and Emotional Suppression
Psychiatry (New York)
  • Man Cheung Chung, Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • Mudar Shakra, University of Helsinki
  • Nowf AlQarni, Zayed University
  • Mariam AlMazrouei, Zayed University
  • Sara Al Mazrouei, Zayed University
  • Shurooq Al Hashimi, Zayed University
ORCID Identifiers

0000-0002-4667-0128

Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-2-2018
Abstract

© Washington School of Psychiatry. Objectives: This study revisited the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and examined a hypothesized model describing the interrelationship between trauma exposure characteristics, trauma centrality, emotional suppression, PTSD, and psychiatric comorbidity among Syrian refugees. Methods: A total of 564 Syrian refugees participated in the study and completed the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Centrality of Event Scale, and Courtauld Emotional Control Scale. Results: Of the participants, 30% met the cutoff for PTSD. Trauma exposure characteristics (experiencing or witnessing horror and murder, kidnapping or disappearance of family members or friends) were associated with trauma centrality, which was associated with emotional suppression. Emotional suppression was associated with PTSD and psychiatric comorbid symptom severities. Suppression mediated the path between trauma centrality and distress outcomes. Conclusions: Almost one-third of refugees can develop PTSD and other psychiatric problems following exposure to traumatic events during war. A traumatized identity can develop, of which life-threatening experiences is a dominant feature, leading to suppression of depression with associated psychological distress.

Publisher
Taylor and Francis Inc.
Keywords
  • adult,
  • anxiety,
  • Article,
  • Centrality of Event Scale,
  • comorbidity,
  • coping behavior,
  • Courtauld Emotional Control Scale,
  • depression,
  • emotion,
  • emotional suppression,
  • family relation,
  • female,
  • General Health Questionnaire,
  • Harvard Trauma Questionnaire,
  • human,
  • injury,
  • male,
  • mental health,
  • posttraumatic stress disorder,
  • questionnaire,
  • risk factor,
  • trauma centrality,
  • emotion,
  • inhibition (psychology),
  • mental disease,
  • posttraumatic stress disorder,
  • prevalence,
  • psychology,
  • refugee,
  • statistics and numerical data,
  • Syrian Arab Republic,
  • young adult,
  • Adult,
  • Comorbidity,
  • Emotions,
  • Female,
  • Humans,
  • Inhibition (Psychology),
  • Male,
  • Mental Disorders,
  • Prevalence,
  • Refugees,
  • Stress Disorders,
  • Post-Traumatic,
  • Syria,
  • Young Adult
Scopus ID
85042939395
Indexed in Scopus
Yes
Open Access
No
https://doi.org/10.1080/00332747.2017.1354620
Citation Information
Man Cheung Chung, Mudar Shakra, Nowf AlQarni, Mariam AlMazrouei, et al.. "Posttraumatic Stress Among Syrian Refugees: Trauma Exposure Characteristics, Trauma Centrality, and Emotional Suppression" Psychiatry (New York) Vol. 81 Iss. 1 (2018) p. 54 - 70 ISSN: <a href="https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/id/publication/issn/0033-2747" target="_blank">0033-2747</a>
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/man-chung/22/